Key Takeaways
- A cat sitter must be responsible, maintaining safety and following specific instructions from pet owners.
- First aid preparedness is crucial, as emergencies can arise, and the sitter should be trained in basic pet care.
- Attention to detail is vital, especially regarding routines and habits of each cat to ensure their comfort and well-being.
- Respect for the ownerās home and the catās personal space is essential for a successful cat sitting experience.
- Ultimately, a true love for animals, particularly felines, is necessary for anyone considering the role of a cat sitter.
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Iāve been cat sitting for a long number of years now. I thought I had seen everything about cats by taking care of my own. But it seems that, with experience, there are many more different animals that I could ever wonder. Each and every one of them with their own behaviour, qualities, quirks and pet peeves. Plus their tutors are obviously different people, with a lot of different expectations for the job. Itās safe to say Iāve also been a substitute pet sitter because of several past issues. For all those reasons, Iāve been reflecting for some time now and I came to the conclusion that I needed to write an article that could help someone to proper vet the person whoās about to take care of their furry loved ones.
A cat sitter need to be extremely responsible
Many of the things Iām writing about would seem obvious ā and this is an example. Iāve heard many stories of cat sitters that would leave the back door open for a cat to do its business. Or they would just forget to close it. Many people would consider Canada a very safe country (especially London, Ontario), but some cat sitters would forget basic safety measures, such as lock the main doors when leaving, for example.
The reverse example also happens. I had a client who was adamant that their cat could run free in their backyard while I was sitting him. I thoroughly explained that I could never let his pet roam through the grass alone without some sort of a leash. It was for its own protection. What if the cat got scared with me and decided to run? Thatās a definite no-no situation.
Also: some inexperienced cat sitters would think this is only a light side hustle. I see it differently: weāre dealing with lives here. Thereās nothing of more importance than that.
First aid preparedness is paramount
I think many people overlook this detail because itās rare. But it can happen. Imagine the following: a cat is suffering epileptic shock as soon as you begin a sit. Or itās vomiting too much. What do you do in that situation?
Because we owned a pet boutique back in the day, we have seen it all. Pets with cardiac problems, diseases, etc. Because of that, my wife Simone and me both have dog and cat first aid courses under our belt. It has served us very well. Simone can even administer medication and apply injections. Plus she is real talented in the art of making a cat ingest a pill. Sheās quick and directā¦ the cat never knew what happened in the first place.
Attention to details
Another example of a cat sitterās responsible attitude is to proper learn the tutorās instructions. Sometimes, I get 2-3 pages of detailed written tasks. They might seem daunting at first, but I understood that these were vital for the mental well being of someone who is traveling. Sometimes, they are vital to the pet itself. The person is outpouring everything related to an animalās life. Plus itās the result of years of living with said animals, so I always take it as very important. I also make sure for the tutor to send me detailed contacts of the catās veterinary for any emergency.
One tutor was specific enough to describe the amount of tea spoons their catās food should have and how much water should be heated in the microwave ā so then I could mash it and transform it into a pate. Although it seemed over-detailed, I obviously understood why: their cat was 14 years old. The oldies are sometimes more picky when it comes to food. And we need to make sure they are eating properly.
Another tutor instructed me how to pet their cat correctly. That was fantastic info, because there were tons of no-no petting zones with that cat.
Overall, Iām glad for the instructions. The more, the merrier.
You better pay attention to regularity
Cats love their habits and routines. And as a pet parent, we know a lot about it. But we are human parents as well. As a mom and dad, it can be challenging for us to be extremely punctual in our tasks. Thatās why I, as a pet sitter, focus on regularity, not so much punctuality (if the tutor allows). That means I strive to maintain a regular set of intervals between each visit and then try to keep it as best as possible.
That means if the tutor feels that a drop in every 10-12hours is enough, Iāll make my best to fulfill that gap in time. The cats will notice that regularity and will adapt themselves to it. Itās been working like a charm. Now, if the tutor wants a specific visit time, that can be arranged as well.
A cat sitter need to be respectful of peopleās homes
In Brazil, we often say āour home is our sanctuaryā. I take this very much seriously when Iām visiting someone elseās place. Discretion is the word. I donāt snoop around, I donāt touch anything other than the essential nor read anything of theirs. Much less consume or eat anything from their fridge, even if offered. Whenever I start a service as a pet sitter, I locate the kitchen, the litter box, their toys, and, especially, the tutorās sofa. These are my locations and my tools for the job ā and nothing else.
You need to respect the limits of the animal
Iām very excited when I meet a new cat! I confess. But when I meet and greet, the first thing Iām paying attention to is if the cat is skittish or not. Some cats react to another pet sitter other than their tutor with aggression. In that case, I prefer to leave them alone. Cats like their quietness and their own little sandbox. Itās their comfort zone. As cat sitters, every time we get into peopleās homes, weāre kinda dealing with a break in that comfort zone.
Older cats also need special attention. They usually have pain and cannot be petted in certain areas, much less carried around like babies.
And, of course ā you need to love animals. Especially felines
Itās also obvious to say this, butā¦ here it goes: if a pet sitter is more of a dogs person, it might not be a good idea for they to be a cat sitter. Cats are wonderful, exquisite animals that are unique in every sense of the word. They have their own moods, atmospheres, behaviours and ways ā that might not make too much sense for someone who truly only cares for dogs. Now, if youāre a total animal lover such as we areā¦ then cats are just for you.
You can find a detailed list of our cat sitting servicesĀ here, complete with job descriptions and everything that we include to make every cat sitting special.
If everything you read makes sense,Ā letās talk! So I get to know you and your cat and see if weāre a match.
